True magic is found among the bluebells and brambles
Harriet Hunt is completely alone. Her father disappeared months ago, leaving her to wander the halls of Sunnyside house, dwelling on a past she’d rather keep buried. She doesn’t often venture beyond her front gate, instead relishing the feel of dirt under her fingernails and of soft moss beneath her feet. Consequently, she’s been deemed a little too peculiar for popular Victorian society. This solitary life suits her fine, though – because, outside, magic awaits.
Harriet’s garden is special. It’s a wild place full of twisting ivy, vibrant plums, and a quiet power that buzzes like bees. Caring for this place, and keeping it from running rampant through the streets of her London suburb, is Harriet’s purpose.
But a woman alone in the world is vulnerable. Soon, a sinister plot involving her father’s disappearance begins to take shape, with Harriet herself at its center. Everything she holds dear – from the thorny roses she tends to her very freedom itself – is at stake. To save herself, Harriet will have to unearth her past, discover the secrets of her garden, and finally embrace the wild magic inside of her.
PRAISE FOR THE PECULIAR GARDEN OF HARRIET HUNT:
“Iversen writes compelling historical fiction that is both a fantastical story that also one that realistically conveys the horrors of domestic violence. Readers will cheer for Harriet as she discovers her own agency and seeks freedom to make her own choices. Comparisons to authors like Alice Hoffman or Sarah Addison Allen are apt, and Harriet would fit right in with those authors' magical women. Highly recommended for all fiction collections.”
—Booklist (STARRED review)
“A haunting gothic tale of madness and aspiration set in a Victorian London suburb...Iversen leisurely unfurls a sweeping tale of a woman on the edge...The slow accumulation of spooky atmospherics makes it work...plenty to enjoy."
―Publishers Weekly
"Iversen’s novel will appeal to fans of character-driven historical fantasy with feminist themes and just a touch of magic."
―Library Journal
“An endearing tale with a heartfelt heroine trapped in a cruel world of men and a sentient garden where magic, vengeance, and second chances bloom. The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt will shock and delight readers at every page.”
—Ava Morgyn, author of The Witches of Bone Hill
“Iversen’s latest takes the closed world of a sheltered young woman in 1860s London and with magic, crisis, persistence and power, cracks it wide open. Fans of Rowenna Miller and Rena Rossner will particularly enjoy this coming-of-age tale in which the magic that surrounds Harriet Hunt provides both her greatest vulnerability and her greatest strength.”
— Greer Macallister, author of The Magician's Lie and The Thirteenth Husband
Rage burns brighter than any spellfire…
Deep in the birchwoods of Norway, magic courses through the veins of two sisters.
For years they’ve been alone, but sweet-tempered Kaija is tired of living in shadows and longs for a life filled with community, even if it means stifling her magic. But Minna is a witch through and through, with wrath always simmering just below the surface.
Different as they may be, both will never forget the day they were driven from their village. The day their mother burned.
When Kaija leaves to pursue a new life, Minna is left alone in the darkness of the forest. Devastated and outraged at the betrayal, Minna casts a curse to punish those who took everything from her. What she doesn’t realize is that this act will incite a deadly chain of events. Soon it will destroy everything, including the life Kaija has lovingly built. But once a witch’s rage boils, regret means nothing—she can’t take back what’s already done.
Someone will have to burn.
About the Author
Chelsea Iversen has been reading and writing stories since before she knew what verbs were. She loves tea and trees and travel and reads her runes at every full moon. Chelsea lives in Colorado with her husband, son, and Pepper the dog.
